Fluid-transferring connector.



No. 864179791. l PATENTED- Amigo, 1907.-V

- '0.J.GOLEMA N.

PLU-m TRANSPERRING CONNECTOR.

UN'ITEE,. sTATEs PATENT OEEICE.

. OLYDE J. COLEMAN, OE NEW YORK, N. Y., AssroNoR To CONRAD HUBERT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y. A

FLUID-TRANSFERRING CONNECTOR. l

Specification-of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 20, 1907.

Application med December 18. 1906. strinNasraAo.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GLYDE J. COLEMAN, a citizen of the United-States, residing at the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in FluidTransferring Connectors, of which the followingis a specification, reference being had thereinto the accompanying drawing, forming a part thereof.`

Myinvention relates to connectors or coupling devices for drawing off or transferring fluids from a suitable source to a point aof use, as, for instance, from tanks or containers charged with acetylenev or carbon dioxid, and has for its general objects simplicity of construction and effectiveness of operation, and has as one of its particular objectsv the avoidance of the necessity of any valve as a fixture upon the tank other than the usual check-valve, and the avoidance of loss or leakage-during the operation of attaching a detachable/member of the connector to a xed portion thereof secured to the source of fluid.

' Other objects will appear from the following description.

sealing.

' My invention includes an improved arrangement of bursting 'disks in the fixed part of the connector and clamping Ameans Ato draw the two connector parts together, these clamping means being carried by the detachable or coupling part of the connector and being engageable with the retaining caps of the bursting disks, and In'y invention also includes various improve- .ments in the construction and combination of' parts.

As my invention maybe carried out in various constructions, in the accompanying drawing I have illustrated several such constructions and have claimed all broadly and a preferred form specifically.

The embodiments of my invention shown in the accompanying drawing will now be particularly described after which I will point out my invention in claims. i

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form ofthe connector. Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof as viewed from the left in Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal central vertical section viewed in the same direction as Fig. 1, and showing the connector as attached to a container, a portion only of which is shown. Fig. 4 is an enlarged central vertical section of the hollow valve-openingmpin and of the pre-sealing piston carried thereby shown inl ferred form of connector, and shows the same as attached to a container the upper part only of which is shown. Fig. 8 is an enlarged plan view of the checkvalve shown in elevation in Figs. 3 and 7, and shows merely the head thereof. Fig. 9 is a plan on an enlarged scale of the check-valve seen in Figs. 3 and 7, with the stem thereof in cross-section. Fig. l0 is a central vertical section of a modified construction. Fig. l1 is a plan on an enlarged scale of the check-valve illustrated in elevation in Fig. 10, with the stem thereof in cross-section. Fig. 12 is a central vertical section of a screw cap which may be used to close and seal the container by screwing upon the xed connector part or plug when the coupling member has been detached.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings, a connector is shown comprising a fixed or plug member 1 and a detachable member or coupling 2, these members constituting coacting conduit. parts. l

The connector may be employed for transferring fluids under pressure between any two points, but is more particularly intended. for use upon containers or tanks withinwhich a fluid is stored under high pressure for transportation. To illustrate this use as a practical application of the invention, such a container 3, with unnecessary portions broken away, is shown as having the plug 1 permanently attached or secured thereto and virtually forming a part thereof. The plug 1 may be attached to the container 3 in any manner desired, but is shown as screwed thereto and also further secured by solder 4. Y

The plug 1 has a passage or bore 5 extendingI longitu-4 dinally therethrough, this bore being controlled by a closure consisting of an inwardly opening check-valve 6 located therein and for which is provided a seat 7, and

.this valve is normally closed to prevent escape of fluid from the container 3. rIhe Valve 6 has a stem 8 guided in a reduced portion of the bore 5 and provided with a head 9, the valve-stern being fiattened as shown most clearly in Fig. 9 to provide passages for the fluid, and .the valve-stem-head having notches l0 for the same purpose, the head 9 being also shown as provided with a transverse groove l1 merely for the use of a screw driver in attaching the valve-stem to the valve proper. To further guardagainst any possible leakage, and to protect the outer end of the plug 1 from injury during transportation, a screw-cap 12 is provided, screwed down over the threads 13, provided solely for that purpose, and down tightly upon the seat 14. As a means of safety, bursting-disks l5 are provided for the fixed member or plug 1 and cover the ends of a transverse passage orV counter-bore 16 which intersects the main bore at a point inwardly from the seat of the check-valve 6,`these bursting disks being held in place by perforated screw-caps 17 and interposed gaskets 18. The projecting screw-caps 17. serve also an additional purpose, as will presently appear. f

The detachable member or coupling 2 has a fluidtransmitting passage or bore 19 which registers with the similar bore 6 of the fixed member 1 when the two members or parts are brought into proper juxtaposition, the member 2 being provided with van enlargement or guiding sleeve 20 which slides over the threaded outer end of the fixed member 1.

The opening device or means for automatically forcing open the check-valve 6 coincident with the coupling together of the two coacting conduit parts of the connector, comprise a -valve-opening pin 21 carried by the coupling 2 and shown as screwed into the inner end of its bore 19. The valve-opening pin is shown as hollow or as having a longitudinal bore to provide a passage therethrough for the fluid being transferred.

While the coupling 2 is still approaching the plug l the free end of the pin 21 will enter the bore 5 and come in contact with the head 9 of the check-valve 6 and push open the check-valve against the fluid pressure. As the coacting parts of the connector have not yet ,been

brought entirely together to effect a final sealing, as ex-,y -plained hereinafter, there would result a loss of containedfluid during the connecting operation were not some means provided to prevent this, such means. being very aptly termed pre-sealing means or preliminary sealing means. v j

The preliminary sealing or pre-sealing means provided in the constructionnow being described, comprise a pre-sealing piston carriedupon the free end of the valve-opening pin 21 and piston-head 22 of yielding resilient material, such as soft rubber held in place between two annular retaining disks, a larger disk 23 at the back and a disk 24 of smaller diameter at the front or nearest to the free end of the pin 21. In operation this pre-sealing piston closely fits in the somewhat reduced portion of the bore 5 just inward from the seat 14 at the outer end of the plug 1. As soon as the pressure of the fluid comes upon the pre-sealing piston, due to the opening of the check-valve 6, such pressure, owing to the-partial exposure of the front surface of the piston-head 22 resulting fromvthe small diameter of the annulus 24 and the support at the rear by the larger annulus 23, will vcause the substance of the piston head to be flattened and expanded against the walls of .its containing bore so as to effect a secure preliminary sealing together of the fluid-transmitting' bores of the coacting conduit parts of the connector, the preliminary sealing means therefore being actuated by the pressure of the fluid.

An additional and final sealing is effected by a sealing disk 25, carried by the coupling member 2 at the bottom of its enlarged portion 20, which is pressed down upon the seat 14 at the end of the fixed member '1,l when the coacting connector members are brought entirely together. This sealing disk may be of Celluloid. The above-described final sealing means are actuated by the means for drawing the connector parts together and which will now be described. I

The means for drawing together'the connector members 1 and 2, to first open the Check-valve 6 and effect a pre-sealing, and their to effecta final sealing, comprise a divided hook 26 having two hooked prongs, as shown, braced by an integral tie 27. The hook 26 is carried by the coupling member 2 and has a slidable connection therewith by reason of the fact that the upper end of the member 2 passes loosely through an opening or eye 28 in the supporting end or heel ofthe hook, such heel being bent over at right angles as shown. The two curved prongs of the hook 26 engage with the bursting-disk retaining-caps 17 by being swung therebeneath when the guide-sleeve 20 of the member 2 passes over the outer end of the member 1. To draw the coacting connector members firmly together to effect a final sealing, a camlever 29 is provided which is pivoted by pivot-screws 30 to diametrically opposite points on a thrust-ring 31 encircles the member 2 and is interposed betweenthe shoulder thereon formed by the enlarged portion 20 and the thrust-ring' 31. The cam-lever 29 is provided with cam-toes 33 for engaging with the heel of the hook 26 to put the spring 32 under tension and draw the two coacting connector members toward each other when the cam-lever 29 is brought substantially parallel thereto, as may be seen in the drawings. The cam-lever 29 is divided into two parts as shown-y the t wo sides or parts being held together as one by the integral tie or brace.

34. The handle ends of the cam-lever are curved inward as shown to guard against accidental displacement and to give a neat and finished appearance. When the connector members 1 and 2 4are drawn entirelyv together by the tension of ythe thrust-spring 32, the sealing disk 25 willbe pressed down upon the seat 14 to effect a final sealing.

The two parts of theconnector may be disconnected from each other by an operation the reverse of that above described, the pressure of the contained fluid, if any, then acting to close the check-valve 6.

. The preferred embodiment of my invention, illustrated in Fig. 7, will now be described. This could not so well be done at first because many of the details of construction which are identical or substantially so are -more clearly and completely shown in the drawings just described. The principle of operation is the same throughout, but in the preferred construction the presealing piston is of a different and it is thought more efficient and more durable construction,l

In the construction shown in Figf7 the fixed connector member and all parts affixed thereto and carried thereby are exactly identical with what is shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, and therefore this member and its parts may be considered as one and the same in Figs. l, 2, 3 and 7, and should therefore be designated bythe same numerals. For example, it might be specifically remarked that this designation applies likewisel to the check-valve. 1n fact it` may be simply considered that the coupling or detachable connector member 2 f iz' fr slidable upon the member 2. A coiled thrust-spring 32 y hook and the lever are slightly longer, and operate in precisely the same manner as 'just described, and

therefore need no further description now.

The detachable connector member or coupling 39 has an enlarged or sleeve portion 40 which acts as a guide by slipping down over the threads 13 at the outer end of the fixed member or plug l the same as in the case of the enlargement 20 of the corresponding connector member 2.

The open end of the sleeve 40 is provided with an annular lining or bushing 41 which is fixed therein and'acts as an abutment or stop to limit the outward y movement of the pre-sealing piston l42 which is ground to slide in the sleeve with a close duid-tight fit. The pre-sealing piston 42 is normally thrust outward by a coiled spring 43 located back thereof within the sleeve 40, this spring always maintaining the pre.

sealing piston at its sealing position; The spring 43 accomplishes this last named function by always keeping the piston pushed out against its stop 41 and therefore always in a position to malte a sealing contact with the seat 14 at the outer end of the connector imember' 1 previouslyv to the opening ofthe checkand thefluidv pressure is depended upon to effect anY effective pre-sealing. The vpiston 42 provided with a central aperture 44 which coincides with the registering bores 5 of the plug l and 45 of the coupling 39, this opening providingcboth a passage for the fluid is rigidly fixed in the bore 45 of the coupling member 39, the enlarged part of the pin having openings therethrough forming fluid passages as shown. The

pre-sealing piston 42 is provided on its opposite faces with annular sealing rings 47 which may b e of Celluloid.

I When the check-valve 6 has been pushed open -by rmly down upon the seat 14, and as the piston has. a fluid-tight fit in the sleeve 40 all possibility of leakage during the connecting or coupling operation is obviated.

vlo effect a nal sealingpthe coupling member 39 is provided with a seat 48 which, when the coacting conduitconnector members 1 and 39 have been brought to their limit of approach toward each other by the cam-lever 36, seats down upon the piston 42 and the piston is then gripped between the seats 14 and 48 in a fluid-tight manner to effect a final sealing.

The modification shown in Fig. 10 remains to be described. In this construction the bore 49 ofthe fixed connector member 50 has a somewhat reduced threaded portion in which is screwed a valve-holding plug 51 which carries the check-valve 52 and providesa seat'therefor. The stem 53 of the valve 52 is triangular in cross section, as may be seen in Fig. 11, to provide passages alongside thereof for the `Huid. This valve stem has a tapered head at its outer end as shown, thisy head preventing the valve from dropping'out and also providing a contact surface for the as shown, with the screw threads upon the outer end of the fixed member 50 to draw the two members together to effect first the opening of the checkvalve and the resultant preliminary sealing, and then a nal sealing. In this construction the pre-sealing piston is fixed at -the bottom of the sleeve 57 and comprises a flange portion-58 and a'tubular Haring portion 59. This piston is made of some slightly yielding and resilient material such as semi-hard rubber. When the check-valve l52 is pushed open by the valve-opening pin 54, the flaring portion of the piston then having entered the upper portion of the bore 49 ofthe member 50, the pressure of the fluid will force the yielding piston walls outward into firm and fluid-tight contact with the surrounding bore, resulting in effective pre-sealing before the two connector members have been drawn entirely together to veffect a final sealing. Later the final sealing takes place by reason of theflange portion 58 of the piston being pressed down upon the seat 60 at the outer end of the fixed member 50 as the screw I threads carried therebybring the two connector mem-v bers completely together. I-n this construction it is .of course necessary to rotate the connector members 50 and 56 relatively to each other to form the screw connection as described. A reverse rotation disconnectsrthe' members and permits the check valve 52 to close, after which the cap 12 may be applied to the member 50 as in the previously described constructions. The fixed or plug member 50 is4 provided with a counter-bore 614 for the application of bursting-disks in the same manner as in the other constructions.

In all of the figures of the drawing the two coacting connector members are shown as having been drawn entirely together to effect a final sealing together of their bores with the check-valve open.

It is obvious that various modifications may be made in the constructions shown and above particularly described Within the principle and scope of my invention. 1

I claimzv- 1. A duid-transferring connector: comprising coacting conduit parts having passages adapted to communicate with each other when the parts are joined, means for drawing these parts toward each other, a closure for the passage in one'of the parts, an opening device in the other part adapted to open such closure when the parts are brought near enough together, and preliminary sealing means actuated by the pressure of the ud when the closure is opened and coacting with the two parts to unite their passages in a duid-tight manner before the two parts are brought to their limit of approach to each other.

2. A duid-transferring connector comprising coacting conduit parts having passages adapted to communicate with each other when the parts are joined, means for drawing these parts toward each other, a. closure for the passage in one 0f the parts, an opening device in the other part adapted to open such closure when the parts are brought near enough together, preliminary sealing means actuated by the pressure of the .duid when the closure is 4. saam sealing means actuated by the means for .drawing the parts toward each other when the partshave been drawn to their limit of approach toward each other.

3. A fluid-transferringconnector comprising coacting conduit parts having passages adapted to communicate with each other when theparts are joined, means for drawing theseparts toward each other, a closure for the passage in one ot the parts, an opening device in the .other part adapted to open such closure when the parts are brought near enough together, and a presea'ling piston coacting with the twoparts and actuated bythe pressure o f the iiuid when the valve is opened to seal the passages of the parts together in a ilnld-tight manner before-the two parts have been drawn to their limit ot approach toward each other. Y

4. A duid-transferring connector comprising coacting conduit parts having passages adapted to communicate witheachv other when the parts are joined, means for drawing these parts toward each other, a closure for the passage in one of-the parts, an opening device in the other part vadapted to open such closure when the parts are brought near enough together, a pre-sealing piston coacting with the'two parts and actuated by the pressure of the fluid when the valveis opened to seal the passages of the"parts together in a duid-Light manner before the two parts have been drawn to' their 'limit o! approach toward each other, and tinal sealing means actuated by the means for drawing the parts toward each other when 4the parts have been drawn' to their limit ot approach toward each other.

5. A iuid-transferring connector comprising coacting conduit parts having passages adapted to communicate with each other when the parte are joined, a cam lever for drawing .these parte toward each other, a closure for the passage in one of the parts, au opening device in the other part adapted to open such closure when the parts are brought near enough togetherand preliminary sealing means actuated by the pressure 'of the fluid when the closure is opened and coacting with the two parts to unite then-.passages in a duid-tight manner before the two parts are brought to their limit ot approach to each other. 1

6. A fluid-transferring connector comprising vcoacting conduitpa'rts having passages adapted to communicate with each otherwhcn the parts are joined, si camrlever tor drawing these parts towards each other,` an interposed spring for receiving thethrust ofthe cam-lever, a,closure for the passage in one of the parts, an opening d evlce in the .other part adapted to open such 'closure when the parts are brought near enough together, preliminary sealing means actuated by the pressure of thefluid when the closure is opened. and reacting with the two parts to" unitetheir passages ln'a fiuid-tight manner'belore the other, and anal sealing means actuated by the means. for' two parts are brought to their limit of approach to each drawing the parts toward each other when the parts havev been drawn to their limit of approach toward each other.

7. A. -fluid-transferring connector comprising a tixed plug, a` coupling coacting therewith, the plug and the coupling having communicating passages, a closure tor the passage of the plug, a counter-passage intersecting the passage ot the plug inwardly fromthe-closure, bursting\ disks closing the outer ends .of the counter-passage,-per torated Yc'apsretaining the bursting-disks in place, and

lmeans Acarried by the l.coupling end engageable with the plug, a coupling coa cting therewlt ling having communicatlngcpassa es, a closure for the pascoupling having communicating passages, an inwardly caps; for drawingV the couplingand the plug toward' ea'ch other.

8. A fluid-transferring connector comprising a iixed the plug and the coupsage oi! the-plug. acounter-passage intersecting the pastheceupling andthe plug toward each. other, an opening 'device in the coupling and tor opening the closure in the sage of the plug inwardly from the closure, burstlng'disks closing the outer ends of the counter-passage, perforated caps retaining the bursting-disks in place, means carried by the coupling and engageable with the caps for drawing the coupling and the plug toward each other, an opening device in the coupling and for opening the closure in the plug when the coupling and the plug are brought near enough to each other, pre-sealing'mveans coacting with the coupling and the plug and actuated by the pressure of the fiid when the valve is opened toseal the passages together in a duid-tight manner before the coupling and the i plug have been drawn to their limit of approach toward each other, and final sealing means actuated by the means for drawing the coupling and the plug together when the coupling and the plug have been drawn to their limit oi'. approach toward each other.

10. Ahum-transferring connector comprising coacting -conduit parts having passages adapted to communicate with each other when the parts are joined, means for drawing these parts toward each other, a closure for the passage in one` of the parts, an opening device in the other part adapted to open such'closure when the parts are brought near enough together, `a pre-sealing piston coacting with the two parts and actuated by the pressure of the duid whenv the valve is opened to seal the passages of the partel together inl a fluid-tight manner before the two parts have been drawn to their limit of approach toward each other, and a spring for maintaining the.pre-sealing piston at its sealing position. Y

11.11 fluid-transferring connector comprising coacting conduit parts having passages adapted to communicate with each other when the parts are Joined, means for drawing these parts toward each other, a closure for the passage ln one o! the parte, an opening device in the other part adapted to open. such closure when the parts are brought. near enough together, `a pre-sealing piston coactlng with the two parts and actuatedby the pressure ot'the the means for drawing the parts toward each other when the parts have been drawn to their llmltof approach toward each other.

12. A tiuid-transferrlng connector, comprising a nxed plug, a coupling coactlng therewith, the plug and the coupling having. communicating passages, an inwardly opening cheekvalve in the passage of the plug, a counter-passage intersecting the passage o! the plug inwardly from the' valve, bursting disks closing the outerv endsl ot the coun-tcopassage. perforated .retaining caps holding the burstingdlsks in place, a divided attaching hook mounted toislide upon the coupling and capable oi engaging with the retaining caps. a the coupling, a thrust-spring interposed .between the ring thrust-ring slidably mounted upon 'and the coupling, and a cam-lever plvoted upon thev ring and cngageable with the hook to draw the plug and the coupling toward each other by putting the spring under tension.

13. A duid-transferring connector comprisinga n xed plug, va coupling coacting therewith, the plug and 'the vcounter-passage, perforated retaining caps holding the burstingdsksin place, a divided attaching hook mounted Ato slide upon the coupling and capable of engaging with the retaining caps, a thrustring slidably mounted upon thei coupling, a thrust-spring interposedwbetween the ring auf the coupling, a cam-lever pivoted upon thel ring and engageablewth the hook to' draw the plug and the coupling toward each other by putting the spring under tension, a vaive-opening projection carried by the coupling, for pushing open the valve when the coupling and the plug are brought near enough to/each other, a pre-sealing 'piston ca 'ried by the couplingandttlng therein and having a passage communicating therewith, and a spring for holding the pre-sealing piston at its pre-sealing position when the valve is opened, the pre-sealing piston being arranged to be actuated by the fluid pressure to pre-seal 'the passages ol* lllxc plug :1nd the coupling together in a iluidtight manner before the plug and the coupling have reached their limit of movement toward each other, the plug and the coupling each being'pi'lovided with valveseats for clamping the pre-sea1ing piston therebetween to produce n final seal between the plug and they coupling.

14. A fluid-transferring connector comprising coacting conduit parts having passages adapted to communicate with each other when' the partsare joined, means for drawing these parts toward each other, a closure for the passage in one of the parts, anV opening device in the other part adapted to open such closure when the parts are brought near enough together, a pre-sealing piston carried by one of the parts and fitting therein and having a passage. therethrough communicating with the passage of the two parts. when such parts areljoined, and a spring for holding the pre-sea1ng piston at its pre-sealing position when the valve is opened, the conduit 'parts being provided l with seats for clamping`the'pre-seaiing piston therebe-Y CLtYDE J'. COLEMAN.

Witnesses:

WM. ASHLEY KnLLY, BERNARD COWEN. 

